The Rich Young Ruler

There’s only one man in the New Testament who’s reported to have walked away from Jesus sad.  There are many who come to Jesus with sadness, but nobody walks away from an encounter with Jesus with sadness except this guy.  Moreover, what makes his countenance even more striking is that he’s one of few people in the New Testament who Jesus is said to have loved.  Think of it.  Here’s a man who is loved by Jesus and yet he walks away, instead of following Him with a deep and abiding sadness.  What do you make of this rich young ruler?

One thing is, this man and his exchange with Jesus makes a deep and lasting impression on the disciples.  His story is one of the few detailed in each of the three parallel gospels – Matthew, Mark, and Luke.  And it’s no mystery why the disciples are so taken by him and his encounter with Jesus.  They are in total awe of the sight of a rich young ruler walking away from the Messiah.  Instead of bending his will to the will of Jesus he walks away.  He begins by running to Jesus.  He begins by bending his knees before Him.  He begins by falling on the ground in front of Him.  Jesus even engages Him in the core question of life, and yet he walks away sadly and the disciples are dumbfounded.  They are aghast because they believe the basic principle of “natural religion” – that salvation and worth are based on social importance and human behavior.  It’s a principle as deeply set in contemporary minds and hearts as in those of antiquity.  You’ve got to love the disciples’ question in the face of this man’s departure from Jesus – “Then who can be saved?”

Now for most of you, the story of the rich young ruler is old news.  You’ve read it over and over.  You’ve studied it for years.  But, if you are like me, there are texts that you think you know exhaustively, that you discover brand new when viewed from another angle.

 

This Sunday is communion Sunday.  It is another time for the family of God at Hebron to gather around Jesus’ table to gain from Him a fresh distribution of grace upon grace.  In light of our 9-month preaching series Jesus Wins and last Sunday’s message, “Grace is a Miracle”, I can’t think of a better text to turn to than Mark 10:17-31 and its companion, Isaiah 55:1-9, and reflect on Jesus.

In preparation for Sunday’s message and meal you may wish to consider the following:

 

1.      Compare the parallel texts:  Matthew 19:16-30 and Luke 18:18-30.

2.      What additional information is found in these texts?

3.      What’s striking about the way the man comes to Jesus?

4.      What does the adjective “good” mean in verse 17?

5.      What is he saying about Jesus when he uses that term?

6.      What do you make of Jesus’ retort in verse 18?

7.      Why does Jesus turn to the law in answering his question?  Is there any significance in turning to the second tablet of the Ten Commandments?

8.      What is the significance of the line, “And Jesus looked at him, loved him, and said…”?

9.      Why does Mark tell us that Jesus loved him?

10.  What is the nature of the man’s sorrow in verse 22?  Hint:  See Mark 14:32-34.

See you Sunday at the table!